I’m sure many have heard the famous phrase, “Those video games are going to rot your brain.” A famous argument for why people should play fewer video games. But is that argument baseless?
Well, many have turned out for the worse with video game addiction. As the APA puts it, “research demonstrates a consistent relation between violent video game use and increases in aggressive behavior, aggressive cognitions, and aggressive affect, and decreases in prosocial behavior, empathy and sensitivity to aggression,” but it is important to recognize that this is not the only thing videos games can do.
Video games can instead be an incredibly powerful tool for education: helping to develop critical thinking skills, foster creativity, and even teach social skills. And these benefits aren’t just limited to educational games – even popular games like Minecraft can have educational value.
Critical Thinking in Video Games
Many games require players to analyze situations, make decisions, and other problem-solving skills. This helps to develop those abilities and encourages players to think critically about the choices they make. Games like Minecraft require players to plan and execute complex building projects, which can improve spatial reasoning and logical thinking.
A player planning out and building a beach house in Minecraft.
Another problem-solving skill that comes with gaming is modding. To ‘mod’ (or modify) a game is to somehow edit the code to add, fix, or change parts of the game. Programming is a great skill that can be taught just by tinkering with the code of games and some schools teach that way specifically with Minecraft. On code.org there are lessons available that teach kids how to code using Minecraft and Minecraft-adjacent content. This includes Minecraft Education Edition which is a tool that can teach more than just coding.
More Creative Options
Videogames allow you to unleash your creativity in ways that have never been seen before their invention. For example, Roblox and LittleBigPlanet allow players to create their own levels, games, and even entire worlds. This also helps to develop skills in art, design, and programming. Other games like The Sims allow players to create and manage their own virtual families, homes, and even communities. This demands creativity and problem-solving skills, as players must manage resources, relationships, and finances to keep their Sims happy and successful. This shows an overview (albeit extremely simplified) of what life can offer and many of the things you can do and some things you should/ must do in certain or all circumstances.
Cognitive Flexibility
Gaming can also improve cognitive flexibility, or the ability to switch between tasks and think about multiple concepts simultaneously. In a study published in Nature, researchers found that playing action video games leads to better cognitive flexibility, especially with switching between tasks. This is an important skill for many situations, such as when driving and needing to quickly react to changing conditions on the road. Games like Portal and The Witness force players to think outside of the box to progress. This can help to enhance cognitive flexibility by facilitating players to think creatively and acclimate to new situations in unique ways.
In addition, playing video games can also improve spatial reasoning skills, which are closely linked to cognitive flexibility. Games like Tetris and Minecraft require players to think in three dimensions and visualize complex structures, which can improve spatial reasoning abilities and cognitive flexibility.
Social Skills
As mentioned earlier, video games can also teach social skills. Cooperative multiplayer games require players to communicate and work together in order to achieve their objectives. This can improve communication skills, teamwork, and even leadership skills. In fact, a study by the University of Glasgow found that playing video games can actually improve social skills! Additionally, online gaming communities can provide a sense of belonging and social support for players. This is important for those who may have difficulty making friends or socializing in person, notably those who are more introverted in nature.
Gaming in the Classroom
Gaming can also be used as a way to supplement traditional classroom learning. One popular type of educational game is language games, many of these are popularly used in classrooms. A couple of examples of these are Duolingo and Noun Town. Noun Town is a more recent game that has come out for VR and has a Desktop version in beta that has the player read and speak sentences to unlock new objects (nouns). Many people argue that immersing yourself in a language is the best way to learn it (especially the grammar of said language), and since video games are considered the most immersive form of media it makes sense to use it.
Caution and Responsability
Although video games offer many benefits, it is important for parents to be responsible with parenting their children. As with other entertainment, excessive use can lead to addiction and negative consequences. Parents should watch their children’s gaming habits and set limits on what they end up playing. Additionally, parents should be mindful of the content of the games their children are playing and look at the ESRB ratings on the back. Many times I see people complain about the violence in a game without considering that not all games are made for children. Parents should always look at the rating of the game and look at the contents to judge whether or not they are okay up to a certain age. Parental controls are also an essential option that many consoles offer to control things when they are not there, but should not be supplemented for actual parenting.